GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Human Resources Managers
Best States to Be a Human Resources Managers
After 2025 state income tax and 2024 cost of living, a human resources managers salary goes furthest in Massachusetts — a $181,780 BLS median worth $163,498 in real terms (Gera US Real Pay Index 119.6).
Which US states are best for a human resources managers after cost of living and tax?
For a human resources managers, the Gera US Real Pay Index ranks Massachusetts #1: a $181,780 BLS median becomes $163,498 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms (index 119.6). Hawaii ranks last ($109,724, index 80.2). Real BLS OEWS May 2025 across 51 states; re-dated annually.
Gera US Real Pay Index
Massachusetts ranks #1 of 51 states for a human resources managers. Index 100 = the average state; 119.6 means pay goes 19.6% further after tax and cost of living.
How this is calculatedHuman Resources Managers — real pay by state (best first)
| # | State | BLS median | State tax | Cost (RPP) | Real pay | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $181,780 | $8,869 | 105.8 | $163,498 | 119.6 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $167,110 | $6,379 | 102.3 | $157,148 | 114.9 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $184,350 | $12,795 | 109.9 | $156,100 | 114.2 |
| 4 | Virginia | $165,980 | $8,744 | 101.1 | $155,519 | 113.7 |
| 5 | Colorado | $166,400 | $6,662 | 103.1 | $155,008 | 113.4 |
| 6 | New York | $176,650 | $9,551 | 107.9 | $154,835 | 113.2 |
| 7 | Washington | $165,530 | — | 107.0 | $154,682 | 113.1 |
| 8 | North Dakota | $139,050 | $1,474 | 89.0 | $154,651 | 113.1 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $165,930 | $7,806 | 103.6 | $152,615 | 111.6 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $172,440 | $8,794 | 108.8 | $150,403 | 110.0 |
| 11 | Georgia | $150,700 | $7,476 | 96.3 | $148,738 | 108.8 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $153,770 | $9,302 | 98.6 | $146,488 | 107.1 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $142,990 | $5,535 | 94.3 | $145,723 | 106.6 |
| 14 | Delaware | $153,890 | $8,816 | 99.8 | $145,353 | 106.3 |
| 15 | Illinois | $151,370 | $7,352 | 100.0 | $144,079 | 105.4 |
| 16 | Tennessee | $131,760 | — | 91.9 | $143,420 | 104.9 |
| 17 | California | $170,080 | $11,696 | 110.7 | $143,050 | 104.6 |
| 18 | Kansas | $134,470 | $6,704 | 90.1 | $141,855 | 103.7 |
| 19 | Texas | $136,500 | — | 97.1 | $140,639 | 102.9 |
| 20 | Maryland | $152,770 | $7,096 | 105.0 | $138,792 | 101.5 |
| 21 | Iowa | $126,370 | $4,762 | 87.8 | $138,566 | 101.3 |
| 22 | Michigan | $138,930 | $5,658 | 96.2 | $138,512 | 101.3 |
| 23 | Missouri | $130,680 | $5,261 | 90.8 | $138,101 | 101.0 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $127,520 | — | 92.7 | $137,575 | 100.6 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $129,460 | $5,636 | 90.1 | $137,425 | 100.5 |
| 26 | Ohio | $130,480 | $3,016 | 92.8 | $137,391 | 100.5 |
| 27 | Arizona | $139,820 | $3,021 | 100.7 | $135,880 | 99.4 |
| 28 | Wisconsin | $133,490 | $5,923 | 94.1 | $135,573 | 99.1 |
| 29 | Indiana | $130,340 | $3,880 | 93.3 | $135,499 | 99.1 |
| 30 | Florida | $137,790 | — | 103.4 | $133,241 | 97.4 |
| 31 | South Dakota | $117,930 | — | 88.6 | $133,125 | 97.4 |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $133,060 | $4,085 | 97.6 | $132,184 | 96.7 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $135,000 | — | 104.2 | $129,602 | 94.8 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $121,460 | $4,728 | 90.2 | $129,474 | 94.7 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $120,020 | $4,850 | 89.5 | $128,686 | 94.1 |
| 36 | Nevada | $128,550 | — | 100.0 | $128,577 | 94.0 |
| 37 | Vermont | $132,050 | $6,369 | 98.0 | $128,301 | 93.8 |
| 38 | Utah | $131,380 | $5,978 | 98.9 | $126,843 | 92.8 |
| 39 | Alaska | $129,570 | — | 102.4 | $126,584 | 92.6 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $116,080 | $4,976 | 87.8 | $126,480 | 92.5 |
| 41 | Maine | $129,720 | $7,326 | 97.0 | $126,115 | 92.2 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $124,290 | $6,099 | 93.7 | $126,072 | 92.2 |
| 43 | Oregon | $140,570 | $11,643 | 103.4 | $124,735 | 91.2 |
| 44 | New Mexico | $118,070 | $4,508 | 92.2 | $123,153 | 90.1 |
| 45 | Alabama | $113,210 | $5,396 | 88.8 | $121,381 | 88.8 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $108,580 | $4,026 | 86.9 | $120,264 | 88.0 |
| 47 | Idaho | $119,990 | $5,713 | 95.5 | $119,669 | 87.5 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $107,880 | $2,861 | 88.2 | $119,059 | 87.1 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $106,100 | $3,863 | 87.0 | $117,577 | 86.0 |
| 50 | Montana | $115,280 | $5,663 | 94.6 | $115,819 | 84.7 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $128,910 | $8,267 | 110.0 | $109,724 | 80.2 |
"Real pay" = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the state's 2024 BEA cost of living (US = 100). Only the 51 states for which BLS publishes a median for this occupation are ranked; suppressed cells are excluded, never set to zero.
Where does your salary go furthest?
Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.
In Massachusetts, a $181,780 salary is worth about $156,415 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.
State income tax $16,360 (≈ top marginal 9.00% (upper bound)) · take-home $165,420 · BEA cost of living 105.8 (US = 100).
The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $205,202, a $48,787 gain over Massachusetts.
| # | State | Real value | Cost (RPP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Dakota | $205,202 | 88.6 |
| 2 | Arkansas | $200,939 | 86.9 |
| 3 | Louisiana | $199,901 | 88.2 |
| 4 | Mississippi | $199,857 | 87.0 |
| 5 | Iowa | $199,257 | 87.8 |
| 6 | North Dakota | $199,233 | 89.0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $197,867 | 91.9 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | $197,108 | 87.8 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $196,114 | 92.7 |
| 10 | Alabama | $194,421 | 88.8 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $193,557 | 90.2 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $193,323 | 89.5 |
Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).
Human Resources Managers — real pay FAQ
- What is the best state to be a human resources managers?
- By the Gera US Real Pay Index, Massachusetts is the best state for a human resources managers: a BLS median of $181,780 is worth $163,498 after the 2025 state income tax ($8,869) and the 2024 BEA cost-of-living adjustment (RPP 105.8), an index of 119.6 where the average state is 100.
- Does the highest-paying state also leave you best off?
- Not necessarily. District of Columbia has the highest headline BLS median for a human resources managers at $184,350, but after state tax and cost of living it ranks #3 of 51 on real pay (index 114.2). That gap is exactly what the Gera US Real Pay Index reveals.
- Where does a human resources managers salary go least far?
- Hawaii ranks last of 51 states for a human resources managers: a $128,910 BLS median is worth only $109,724 after tax and cost of living (index 80.2). Higher local prices and/or income tax less far than the national average erode the headline pay.
Compare other occupations
- Home Health and Personal Care AidesWashington
- Retail SalespersonsNorth Dakota
- Fast Food and Counter WorkersCalifornia
- General and Operations ManagersSouth Dakota
- Registered NursesCalifornia
- CashiersWashington
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandNorth Dakota
- Stockers and Order FillersWyoming
- Customer Service RepresentativesIowa
- Office Clerks, GeneralNorth Dakota
- Waiters and WaitressesVermont
- Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersWashington
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Related on GeraJobs
- Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked — and how the index is calculated.
- Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
- Browse US jobs with salary ranges — roles hiring now.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates, US federal public domain); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for a human resources managers is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.